5 best current open-world racing games

The world of racing games is vast, with many options for players to try out. There are realistic simulators such as the Assetto Corsa series and iRacing, sports-focused titles such as the likes of F1 and MotoGP, and many more. A popular part of the racing game genre is the open-world racing genre, which allows players to explore a vast open-world when they're not fuelling their adrenaline with the racing.

There are many games within this sub-genre, and each of them offers the player a unique experience. With that in mind, here is a list of the five best open-world racers currently available on store shelves.

NOTE: This article is subjective and reflects the writer's opinion.

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Here are the five great open-world racing games worth trying

1) Forza Horizon 5

Forza Horizon 5 (Image via Microsoft)

Microsoft's headline Forza franchise has spawned two sub-franchises, namely Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon. The latter features immense open worlds for the player to explore and drive around, with each game's setting being that of a real-life place being fictionalized into a game map.

Forza Horizon 5 continues the series' legacy of being an exploration game, with a vast map based on Mexico featuring everything from drag racing to racing classic cars in cross-country races. The Horizon franchise has been at the forefront of open-world racing games since the first game was released in 2012 and has a lot to offer.

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2) Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown (Image via Nacon)

Nacon has recently revived the Test Drive trademark with their newest release, titled "Solar Crown". The series has been historically proven to provide players with a map representing a real-life location, and Solar Crown is no different. The game places the player onto a 1:1 representation of Hong Kong and offers a wealth of vehicles to choose from.

Players can choose between two clans, namely the Streets and the Sharps. The game offers players a chance to race all around Hong Kong, and do so in some great licensed sportscars and supercars. However, the game is an always-online title, and cannot be played offline.

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3) Burnout Paradise Remastered

Burnout Paradise proves that graphics should not always be the focus point (Image via PlayStation/EA)

Burnout Paradise is a classic offline racing game, originally released on the PS3 and Xbox 360 back in 2008. The game is set in a fictional place called Paradise City, where players can partake in chases, races around the map, and stunt jumps all while competing neck-and-neck against AI opponents. And yes, the Guns & Roses song "Paradise City" does feature in the soundtrack!

What sets the game apart from its counterpart is the destruction. While it challenges the competition when it comes to races and the open-world, it is a one-of-a-kind thanks to the destruction derby-like element.

Though the game does not necessarily feature ground-breaking visuals compared to the other titles here, it is a fantastic open-world racing classic that can be enjoyed completely offline and even features an interesting campaign mode. A remastered version was released on PS4, PC, and Xbox in 2018.

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4) The Crew Motorfest

The Crew Motorfest (Image via Ubisoft)

Starting with 2014's The Crew, Ubisoft has made three games in the franchise with the latest being The Crew Motorfest. The game allows players to not just race cars, but also boats, planes F1 cars, and more. Picturesque Hawaii is the setting for the game and features a large open-world.

Players can enjoy PvP activities and various head-to-head or competitive races all over the map. Similar to the aforementioned Solar Crown, however, it requires a persistent online connection to be played. However, Ubisoft did recently announce the arrival of an offline mode for the game in the future.

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5) Need for Speed: Unbound

Need for Speed: Unbound (Image via EA)

Gamers often remember the glory days of great NFS games such as Underground and Underground 2 in the early 2000s, reminiscing on the game's quality and scope. The latest title in the series, NFS Unbound, replicates some of that charm and lets players partake in the series' established formula of pedal-to-the-metal street racing, this time with a unique graphical palette for the race effects.

There is a campaign mode, though its story is quite drab. The best aspect of the game remains the fluidity of the vehicle handling, as well as the controls and in-game mechanics. NFS Unbound is a great title to pick up within the open-world racing game genre.

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Read more racing games news below:

• Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown review
• 5 underrated racing games